Improvement in folding opera-chairs



uNITEn STATES] PATENT OFFICE. I

THOMAS J. oLosE, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIeNon` To ROBERTwoon, or SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING oPERA-bHAIRs..

Specification forming part of Leiters Patent No. 146,432, dated January13, 1874; application filed October 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

`Be it known that I, THOMAS .1. CLOSE, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an ImprovedFoldingSeat, of which the following is a specication:

My invention relates to that class of chairs' in which the seats can befolded up against the backs, so as to increase the width of the passagebetween rows of chairs in theaters, lecture-rooms, &c.; and the objectsof my invention are simplicity in the construction' of chairs of thisclass, and the obtaining of more room between the rows of chairs,objects which I attain by connecting the seat A to the'stand B, throughthe medium of two pins, a af, attached to or cast on each edge of theseat, and adapted to a curved slot, b, in each stand, as

` shown in the side view, Figure 1, of the accompanyin g drawing.

The permanent or xed portion of the chair is composed of two stands, BB, and the` inclined back I), secured to the said stands, and

. serving to connect them together, as best observed in the perspectiveview, Fig. 2, an arm,

. 6.being cast on and forming a part of each of the said stands. On eachedge of the seat, near the rear end of the same, are the two pins al a',referred to above, and best observed in the perspective view, Fig. 3, ofthe seat, the two pins on one edge of the seat projecting into thecurved slot b, in one stand, B, and the two pins on the opposite edge ofthe seat projecting into a like curved slot in the opposite stand. Thesepins are, in conjunction with the said curved slots, the sole means of"connecting the seat to the stand, and of maintaining the seat, eitherin the Vdepressed or elevated position, to which it may be adjusted.

When the seat, for instance, is depressed, as shown in Fig. 1, the pinsa bear against the front ends ofthe slots, which prevent any outwardmovement of the seat, while the pins a a', bearing against the upperedges of the slots, prevent its downward movement.

On elevating the seat, the pins will slide along the slots until therear ends of thelat ter are nearly reached by the pins a af', when theseat will be folded against the back in the position shown in Fig. 4,where-it will be retained by the pins a a., the latter having passed thehighest points of the slots, so that the seat will be self-sustaining'in its elevated position, from which, however, it can be d c-p pressed,by a slight eifort.

It should be understood that the slots must l be depressed at the rear,and Inust be other wise formed and arranged in the manner I I shown, inorder that the above results maybe attained. v

Simultaneously with the elevation of the front of the seat, the rear,following the course of the slots, will recede, and consequently theseat, when elevated, will be closer to the back than the pivoted seatsof ordinary chairs of this class, and hence the space between rows ofthe chairs is increased, this space being y of especial importance incrowded theaters, as it permits the occupant of a chair, after ralsmgthe seat, to stand far enough back topermit the free passage to and froof those I who wlsh to leave or gain access to other seats.

In order to prevent disturbing noises, the pins a a are so arranged thatthe seat will be in contact with the back when the said pins I 'elevatethe seat by a backward pressure of the legs against the front edge.

I do not claim, broadly, a seat having on its opposite edges two pins,adapted to `slots in the frame, irrespective of the shape of the slots;but A I I claim- 1. The combination of the seat A, having two pins, aa', at its opposite edges, with stands or frames having slots curved inthe manger described, so that the seat can recede7 its s et forth.

2. The seat A and its pins, arranged in respect to the beek B and to theslots in the frame, in the manner described, so that the upward movementof the` seat shall be arrested by the beek, and not by the slot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speoi'eaton in thepresence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. J. CLOSE.

Vtnesses WM. A. STEEL7 HARRY SMITH.

